Football is a game played every bit as much between the ears as it is between white lines and in that respect Blues have a potentially decisive edge.

Villa haven’t won for nearly a month, they haven’t tasted victory in the league since August 8, they can’t be in a good place mentally.

Certainly they looked shell-shocked when Leicester tore into them ten days ago, and they looked subdued against West Brom on Saturday, you have to query whether they’ll be able to simply turn up the tempo, discover the creativity and build defensive fortitude at the drop of a hat.

All the pressure is on Villa. They’d be in desperate need of a result whoever they were playing tomorrow night, the fact it’s another local derby and the one team on the planet to whom they dare not lose only intensifies that pressure.

If Birmingham are still level at 45 minutes or even an hour, the relationship between the Villa supporters and their team - and perhaps even their manager, could sour, in that case Villa Park might be the last place the home players want to be.

For Blues it’s almost a free hit. If they are defeated their players and coaches can rightly point out they have just lost to a Premier League team that’s recently spent £50m in the summer.

As long as they are not routed - and there are no signs Villa are in the sort of form to thrash anyone, any decent performance will reflect well.

They can return to their business at the upper end of the Championship with the confidence of having put in a good display against a top flight side and with a useful yardstick of where they need to reach to progress further.

That psychological freedom should have a liberating effect on Gary Rowett’s team. Clayton Donaldson, Demarai Gray, Jon Toral and Stephen Gleeson - assuming they play, have the confidence and platform to express - and impress with, their ability.

Gray can certainly get at the Villa back four, Donaldson’s unusual combination of just enough pace, just enough power and just enough touch will make him a handful for the Villa defenders. If they hesitate Donaldo could strike.

Birmingham City's Jon Toral scores his sides first goal

And Arsenal loan man Toral is Premier League class anyway. If Villa give the Spaniard space he has the quality to score himself or set up a team-mate.

As for Gleeson, who has been Birmingham’s best player this season, he should use the match as a stage from which to press what are surely growing claims on a Republic of Ireland call-up.

I worry a little about Blues defensively. One or two of their back four are prone to a slip and both Rudy Gestede and Gabby Agbonlahor have form against Birmingham.

What Blues must do is cut the supply line and I have no doubts they will be able to do that.